L'Archiduc ★ 4.4
L'Archiduc in Brussels' Dansaert has been the jazz temple since 1937. Art Deco interior, live music every Saturday and Sunday at 17:00, cocktails poured from 16:00 to 05:00.
Signature drink: Classic Manhattan
Food: Bar snacks
Cocktail bars, wine bars, dive bars and gastropubs: drinking in Brussels for grown-ups.
Where to drink
Le Cirio ★ 4.3
Le Cirio in Brussels has been pouring the half en half (white wine and sparkling) since Francesco Cirio opened in 1886. Belle Epoque interior beside the Bourse, marble tables, no music.
Signature drink: Half en half
Food: Snacks, salads
A La Mort Subite ★ 4.4
A La Mort Subite in Brussels has been pouring gueuze since 1928 behind the Galeries Saint-Hubert. Long marble tables, mirrored walls, white-shirt waiters, the city's canonical lambic stop.
Signature drink: Mort Subite Gueuze
Food: Snacks, croque-monsieur
Moeder Lambic Fontainas ★ 4.6
Moeder Lambic on Place Fontainas runs 46 taps of Belgian and European craft, plus a 200-bottle cellar leaning hard on lambic. Tablet menu, knowledgeable staff, the editorial Belgian beer bar.
Signature drink: Cantillon Gueuze
Food: Cheese, charcuterie
Delirium Cafe ★ 3.8
Delirium Cafe in Brussels has the Guinness record for the most beers on offer at 3,162 varieties. Located on a side alley off Rue des Bouchers; subterranean rooms run late seven nights.
Signature drink: Delirium Tremens
Food: Snacks
Café Walvis ★ 4.1
Café Walvis in Brussels' Dansaert has run for over two decades at the corner of Rue Antoine Dansaert. Neighbourhood cafe with a craft tap selection, kitchen leaning on local ingredients; late hours Thursday through Saturday.
Signature drink: Belgian craft tap
Food: Bistro plates
Le Verschueren ★ 4.0
Le Verschueren in Brussels' Saint-Gilles has the Art Deco facade and the simple interior. A century-old neighbourhood cafe with terrace on the Parvis, late hours and a local crowd.
Signature drink: Belgian craft beer
Food: Snacks
Billie ★ 4.2
Billie in Brussels' Sainte-Catherine reopened the former Monk space in February 2024 under Dries Heyman, Leentje Bruyninckx and Steven De Visscher. Brown-cafe layout retained; freshened bar, green-roofed terrace, deep Belgian beer list.
Signature drink: Belgian craft and Trappist beers
Food: Snacks
Le Poechenellekelder ★ 4.3
Le Poechenellekelder in Brussels sits opposite Manneken Pis with a marionette-decorated interior. The carte runs 180 Belgian beers including lambics, gueuze and the full Trappist range.
Signature drink: Lambic, gueuze, Trappist
Food: Snacks, croquettes
Plumette ★ 4.5
Plumette in Brussels Marolles is the intimate speakeasy on Rue de l Epee. The 1930s-styled room pours classic and bespoke cocktails and was Belgium's only bar in the Top 500 World's Best Bars 2025 list.
Signature drink: Tailor-made cocktails alongside classics in a 1930s speakeasy room
Food: Cocktail-bar snacks